The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-08
A PUBLIC APOLOGY
MADE BY A ROMAN CATHOLIC
LADY POR MARRYING
A PrOtestaHt-The Enforcement OF
a Rule by the Priest Of
st. Paul's Parish.

NEW YORK, April 7.-Some time ago
Miss Agnes Toner, prominent young
lady of St. Paul's parish, on Jersey
City Heights, and living on South
street, was married to James pitch.
ard, Protestant. The ceremony was
performed by Protestant minister,
and Miss Toner'S friends were greatly
displeased about it. The coup
lived happily together, but it
appears that after awhile Mrs.
Pritchard's conscience begsn TO
trouble her about what she bad done,
and she decided 70 visit Fa her Smyth,
her old pastor, and seek advice as to
how the act she had done could be
atoned for. Father Smyth explained
to Mrs. Pitchard that, in the eyes of
OF the church, she had committed
grave fault, and that according to q
law framed at the late Council OF
Baltimore, che would be obliged to
make q public reparation before the
congregation.
This seemed q rather humiliating
penance to Mrs. Pritchsrd, but she
said she was 80 troubled in mind that
she would make the apology. The
law OF the Council declares that he
person offending against it shall make
a verbal apology, but leaves it discre-
tionRry with pastors to modify the
law according to the nece ,sities Of in
dividusl cases. Father Smyth told
Mrs. Pritchard that if she would
write letter acknowledging her sins
and asking forgiveness OF the congle-
cation, he would read it from the altar
and at the same time explain the cir-
cumstaDces as we'll as the eCclesasti-
cal law for the benefit of all. Father
Smyth read Ms. PritchsTd's apology
at ell the masses on Sunday. The
letter was couched in meek and apollo
getic terms, and Mrs. Phtchard'J
name was signed to it.
Father Smyth said ss this was the
first time that such an occurrence bap-
pened in his parish, he would make
use of the discretion allowed him by
the Council Of Baltimore and save the
offender from the deep humiliation of
a verbal apology, but in the future
should any be 60 thoughtless as to
commit like ofsnss, the law would
have to be carried out TO the
very letter. He said that the Catholic
Church regarded the sacrament of
matrimony as the foundation and cor
ner stone Of society, and every safe
guard and protection should be thrown
about it. More misery and So
cial ruin were due to
hasty and un Christian marriages
than to almost any other cause. From
the very fact that marriage was held
to be a true sentiment, Catholics
should enter upon that holy state with
due preparation and Judgment. There
was no divorce in the Catholic church,
and, therefore, even apart from re-
ligious considerations persons entering
the bonds Of matrimony should not
proceed hastily nor in a manner which
might be sntsgonistic to their con.
scientious principles.
The people OF st. Paul's Church
were deeply impressed with Father
Smyth's words and the subject has
caused much comment. OF course,
the Cath olics regard the law OF the
Council as proper and righteous one,
and, although it isn't new ordinance,
it has never been in general forcs In
this country until now. The case cf
Mrs. Plitchard is the first of the kind
that has occurred in the diocese Of
Newark, and only few similar ones
are known in the history of the Cath
olic Church in the United States. In
some countries great crimes or scan
dals of any serious nature committed
by Catholics must be atoned for by
public apology, ths object being to
make sins of public nature as odious
as possible by prescribing heavy pen
altles for their atonement.
A well known priest said yesterday
that the good effect of public atone
ment could be seen upon public NOR
ais in certain countries in Europe
where the Catholic faith was in the
1t prevented scandals Of
a shocking kind which now have a
tendency to demoralize the commu-
nifty. The priest said that in a short
time canon law would probably be in
troduced in this country, and that &C.
penalties, including thst of
public stonerent, would then have
full force. 1t might be difficult, he
said, in the beginning to induce luke.
warm Catholics to abide by the de-
cisions of the church in some in
stances, but after awhile, when the |
good effects Of penal laws in religious
matters were realized, there would be
little trouble found in the enforce